Hand punching device for data cards

ABSTRACT

A convenient, light weight, inexpensive, portable device for hand punching data cards comprising a transparent upper face plate and a mating base plate having a card size recess therebetween with an edge opening for the introduction of a data card therein, and both having holes of the preselected data hole size and shape in each of the numerous preselected positions at which data holes may be punched in the card. The side of the base plate facing the upper face plate has a hard surface with well defined edges surrounding each of the possible data holes. Underlying the base plate is a removable bottom cover, preferably of a yieldable material, the cover and/or the bottom of the base plate defining a recess for receiving the card chips when data holes are punched therein. A member urged toward the edge opening of the face and base plates, to lock the data card therein, preferably comprises a flexible extension of the yieldable bottom cover locked into position by locking members extending from said base and upper plates in the area of the edge opening. A hand held punch with a hard forward surface having a cross sectional shape corresponding to the size and shape of the data holes is provided to punch data holes at any of the preselected positions and a data card inserted in the card recess by forcing the punch through the corresponding holes in the upper face plate and base plate and the card which is inserted therebetween.

United States Patent Krueger June 27, 1972 [s41 HAND PUNCHING DEVICE FOR DATA CARDS 269/293 51 Int. 01. ..B26f1/32 58 Field ofSeareh; ..30/358; 83/553, 167; 225/93;

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,923,452 2/1960 Holovka, Jr. .225/9 2,949,292 8/1960 Abissi ..269/l5 3,227,0l8 l/l966 Kravit 83/553X Primary Examiner- -James M. Meister Anorney-Paul & Paul ABSTRACT A convenient, light weight, inexpensive, portable device for hand punching data cards comprising a transparent upper face plate and a mating base plate having a card size recess therebetween with an edge opening for the introduction of a data card therein, and both having holes of the preselected data hole size and shape in each of the numerous preselected positions at which data holes may be punched in the card. The side of the base plate facing the upper face plate has a hard surface with well defined edges surrounding each of the possible data holes. Underlying the base plate is a removable bottom cover, preferably of a yieldable material, the cover and/or the bottom of the base plate defining a recess for receiving the card chips when data holes are punched therein. A member urged toward the edge opening of the face and base plates, to lock the data card therein, preferably comprises a flexible extension of the yieldable bottom cover locked into position by locking members extending from said base and upper plates in the area of the edge opening. A hand held punch with a hard forward surface having a cross sectional shape corresponding to the size and shape of the data holes is provided to punch data holes at any of the preselected positions and a data card inserted in the card recess by forcing the punch through the corresponding holes in the upper face plate and base plate and the card which is inserted therebetween.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PKTENTEUJUHZT m2 SHEET 10F 2 Fig. 7

Fig. 6

INVENTOR.

Eugene C. Krueger BY AT TORNEYS This invention pertains .to a data card punching device and Q more particularly to a light weight, inexpensive, portable hand punching device for making clean cut data holes in convem tional, non-perforated data cards which are thereby rendered readable in high speed data card reading equipment.

Recordation and storage of data by punching holes of preselected size and shape at any of numerous preselected positions on a data card is well known. As the extensive usage of such cards has increased, thespeed and complexity of equipment for punching and reading such cards has also been tremendously increased.

While these developments in the areas of punching and reading data cards have kept pace with one another; the high speed card reading systems which haveevolved, and which depend on accurately and cleanly punched data holes, have not been satisfactory for processing hand punched data cards from applications such as test answer recordation, freight receipt data recordation etc. Hand punched cards are usually produced by using pre perforated cards. I These leave torn. edge tabs around each data hole in the space between the perfaceplate and base plate combination and further includes a flexible member lockable against the edge opening of the upper face plate and base plate.

Other features of the invention include a retaining means "for holding the separate hand held punch and positioning recesses, projections, etc. for insuring the proper mating and thereof;

forations which surrounded the hole. Suchtabs preclude the processing of these cards in highspeed reading equipment.

Some of the so called portable data card: punching devices heretofore available have been so large and expensive as to be rendered highly impractical for such applications as onsite recordation at the point of data observation or individual tests response recordation. To the extent that truly portable, light weight hand punch devices, for use with non-perforated cards, have been suggested, they have not combined clean and accurate punching means with a practical combination of card holding components, chip receivingmeans, means forholding the assembly togetherjetc. to render any such device "satisfactory for extensive use. p I

- It is the reforean object of the present invention to provide a practical, light weight; inexpensive, portable hand punch device for data cards.

It is aifurt her object 'of thisinvention to provide such a device which, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple to assemble, and convenient to use.

Stillariother object ofthis invention to provide such device, the design of which enhances the useful life thereof.

.One other object of this invention 'is to provide a device combining all of these features, by means of which datac'ardsj with data holes punched at preselected positions therein may be producedgwhi'ch data cards are readable in high speed data card reading equipment.

Briefly, this invention comprisesa data card punch device forselectively, accurately, and cleanly punching holes-bf preselected size and shape at any of numerous preselected positions on a generally rectangular data card of preselected size and thickness. This device includes a transparent upper face plate with a mating base plate having an adjacent hard surface the adjacent base plate and upper faceplate surfaces combining to provideacard sized recess with an edge opening for the introduction of a data card therein. A member urged against theedgeopening positions andlocks the data card in the card recess. The area of the upper face plate and base plate overlying the area of the data card inserted therein FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed views of alternative punch member shapes; and

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the punch member of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 mated therewith, the upper face plate 10 x and base plate 12 having an opening 14 at one edge thereof for .the introduction of the data card therebetween. Both upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 include accurately defined and precisely positioned holes 16 of the preselected data hole size and shape overlying each possible data hole position on a data card (not shown) held in a recess (not shown in FIG. 1) pro vided therefor between the upper face plate 10 and base plate In this the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

5. 2 upper faceplate 10 and base plate 12 are both comprised of I polycarbonate materialand are essentially identical in design so that the position and function of upper face plate 10 and ,base plate 12 may be interchanged simply by turning them upside down. The use of a polycarbonate material permits this d j-interchangeability'since it is transparent, as is necessary for 'the upperface plate in order that indicia on a data card to be pun'ched therein may be seem-and hard, so that base plate 12 may assist in cleanly and accurately punching data holes of proper shape and size. Obviously, if this interchangeability is notdesired, any transparent material .may be usedfor the :tlpper face plate 10 and any material having a hard surface adjacent the card recess may be used for base plate 12.

Also seen in FIG. lare locking members 18 projecting from flipper face plate 10 and base plate 12 near edge opening 14.

3 gaging locking members 18 so as to positively position a data Still further in FIG. 1, there is shown removable bottom positioning upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 thereon, holding members 23 for securing upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 to bottom cover 20, and card holding member 24 encard inserted in edge opening 14 in the recess provided insertion and removal of a data card through edge opening 14,

' card holding member'24 is hinged, either by its resilient nature which includes the numerous preselected hole positions of the card has, at each ofthe numerous preselected hole positions, holes corresponding in size and shape tothe data holes to be punched in the data card. Also included is a bottorncover under the base plate with a recess for receiving the chips produced by the card punching operation.

Preferably. the upper face plate and base plate are of identical design and composition, preferably polycarbonate material which is both transparent and hard, sothat simply by turn ing the combined face plate and base plate upside down, their positions and functions may be interchanged, thus prdlonging the useful life of the device. Preferably also, the device in cludes a bottom cover comprised of a yieldable material with retaining means for securing the bottom cover to the upper r 7 well defined reasonably hard forward projection 30 having a cross's'ectio'nal shape, as seen in FIG. 7, corresponding in size and shape to that of the data holes 16 in upper face plate 10 and base plate 12. Other details of the data card punch device shown in FIG. I may be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, wherein like elements are numberedaccordingly.

In FIG. 3, which is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, there is shown card recess 32, the peripheral shape of which is seen in FIG. 2, opening onto edge opening 14, and the total depth of which is defined by mating recesses 32a and 32b on the adjacent sides of upper face plate and base plate 12. Dimensionally, the three sides of card recess 32 correspond substantially to three sides of the generally rectangular data card to be punched while the total depth of recess 32 is slightly greater than the thickness of the data card to permit free but limited movement of the data card therein. For example, for a data card having a nominal thickness of 0.006 inches, the total depth of recess 32 is generally about 0.012 inches and the depth of each of the recesses 32a and 32b is about 0.006 inches. Alternatively, of course, the total recess depth may be provided in either of the upper face plate 10 and base plate 12. Also seen in FIG. 3 is a chip recess 34 in bottom cover for receiving the chips or paper bits formed by the punching out of holes in the data card. Bottom cover 20 must of course be removable from upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 for periodic removal of these chips.

As seen in FIG. 4, chip recess 34, in this the preferred embodiment of the present invention, also includes reinforcing members 36 running the length of recess 34 between the rows of data holes 16 so as to maintain a preselected distance between the resilient bottom cover 20 and base plate 12.

Also seen in FIG. 4, which is a sectional view along the lines 4-4 in FIG. 2, are positioning projections 38 on the side of upper face plate 10 adjacent base plate 12 mating with and engaging positioning recesses 40 on the side of base plate 12 adjacent upper face plate 10.

Normally, in assembling the hand operated card punch devices of the present invention, polycarbonate upper face plate 10 and polycarbonate base plate 12 are permanently melt adhered to one another at the time of their manufacture. Obviously, other means for securing together these members could easily be devised. In order that upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 be of identical design, it will be noted that positioning projections 38 remain on the side of base plate 12 adjacent bottom cover 20. Since the combination of upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 are otherwise positioned on bottom cover 20 these positioning projections 38 on base plate 12 are not necessary and may be removed. However, holes 42 may also be provided in bottom cover 20 for receiving these remaining positioning projections.

In FIG. 4, it will be noticed also that an indentation 44 is provided along the mating edges of upper face plate 10 and base plate 12 for receiving gripping tip 46 of holding members 23 of bottom cover 20. I

While the forward projection or tip 30 of punch or stylus 28 may be comprised of any reasonably hard material, the cutting effectiveness thereof may be enhanced by specific front shapes. Two such possible front shapes are seen in side view in the detail sketches of FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 5, the front shape of punch tip 30 shown in cross sectional view is concave to provide knife like cutting edges at the peripheral surface corresponding in size and shape to data hole 16. In FIG. 6, this projecting tip is diagonally sectioned to provide, in combination with the well defined holes of mating base plate 12, a clean hole cutting action.

While this invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is not intended that this invention be limited to these specific embodiments. For that reason, it should be understood that the claims appended hereto are intended to cover the disclosed embodiments as well as the various other embodiments thereof which will be obvious to those skilled in the art and which are within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Typical of these possible variants is the substitution of a non-resilient material for bottom cover 20, other means for positioning and holding the various members of the present invention, and other minor changes in the design thereof, such as the inclusion of chip recess 34 on the underside of base plate 12 rather than in bottom cover 20.

The following is claimed: 1. Data card punching device for selectively punching holes of preselected hole size and shape in any of numerous preselected positions on a generally rectangular data card of preselected size and thickness, said device including a. a transparent upper face plate,

b. a base plate having a hard surface on at least one side thereof, said side being adjacent said transparent upper face,

c. a removable bottom cover, said cover being adjacent said base plate on the side thereof opposite that adjacent said upper plate,

d. at least one of the adjacent sides of said face plate and base plate including a rectangular card recess, the total depth of said mating recesses being slightly greater than the thickness of said card, said card recess being open on one side thereof to the edge of said plates to define an edge opening therein for inserting a card in said card recess,

. both of said face plate and base plate including holes of said preselected hole shape and size at each of said numerous preselected positions of said card when said card is inserted in said card recess with three of its sides adjacent the three closed sides thereof, at least one of the adjacent sides of said base plate and bottom cover including a chip recess in registry with said holes in said base plate,

g. a member urged toward said edge opening of said face plate and said base plate and movable away from said opening to pennit movement of a data card into and out from said recess and to position therein a data card inserted in said card recess, and

h. a punch member having a hard forward surface including well defined side walls and a cross sectional shape corresponding to said hole size and shape.

2. Data card punching device, as recited in claim I, wherein said upper face plate and said base plate are both comprised of a hard, transparent material and are of identical construction.

3. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said upper face plate and said base plate are both composed of a polycarbonate material.

4. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said bottom cover comprises a yieldable member having gripping fingers at the periphery thereof and positioning means for positively locking said upper face plate and base plate in a preselected position adjacent said bottom cover.

5. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said member urged toward said edge opening comprises a flexible member extending from said bottom cover near said edge opening and wherein at least one of said upper face plate and base plate includes locking means adapted to engage said flexible member and lock said flexible member in a position overlying said edge opening.

6. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said bottom cover includes said chip recess and a plurality of supporting members adapted to maintain a preselected distance between said base plate and said bottom cover throughout the area which includes said numerous preselected hole positions.

7. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said upper face plate and said base plate are both comprised of a hard, transparent material and are of identical construction.

8. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 1, further including retainer means for storing said punch member when not in use.

marre 

1. Data card punching device for selectively punching holes of preselected hole size and shape in any of numerous preselected positions on a generally rectangular data card of preselected size and thickness, said device including a. a transparent upper face plate, b. a base plate having a hard surface on at least one side thereof, said side being adjacent said transparent upper face, c. a removable bottom cover, said cover being adjacent said base plate on the side thereof opposite that adjacent said upper plate, d. at least one of the adjacent sides of said face plate and base plate including a rectangular card recess, the total depth of said mating recesses being slightly greater than the thickness of said card, said card recess being open on one side thereof to the edge of said plates to define an edge opening therein for inserting a card in said card recess, e. both of said face plate and base plate including holes of said preselected hole shape and size at each of said numerous preselected positions of said card when said card is inserted in said card recess with three of its sides adjacent the three closed sides thereof, f. at least one of the adjacent sides of said base plate and bottom cover including a chip recess in registry with said holes in said base plate, g. a member urged toward said edge opening of said face plate and said base plate and movable away from said opening to permit movement of a data card into and out froM said recess and to position therein a data card inserted in said card recess, and h. a punch member having a hard forward surface including well defined side walls and a cross sectional shape corresponding to said hole size and shape.
 2. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper face plate and said base plate are both comprised of a hard, transparent material and are of identical construction.
 3. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said upper face plate and said base plate are both composed of a polycarbonate material.
 4. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said bottom cover comprises a yieldable member having gripping fingers at the periphery thereof and positioning means for positively locking said upper face plate and base plate in a preselected position adjacent said bottom cover.
 5. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said member urged toward said edge opening comprises a flexible member extending from said bottom cover near said edge opening and wherein at least one of said upper face plate and base plate includes locking means adapted to engage said flexible member and lock said flexible member in a position overlying said edge opening.
 6. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said bottom cover includes said chip recess and a plurality of supporting members adapted to maintain a preselected distance between said base plate and said bottom cover throughout the area which includes said numerous preselected hole positions.
 7. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said upper face plate and said base plate are both comprised of a hard, transparent material and are of identical construction.
 8. Data card punching device, as recited in claim 1, further including retainer means for storing said punch member when not in use. 